Exploring Łódź: Poland’s Fast-Growing City of Art, Design, and Urban Renewal

Many people visiting Poland for the first time tend to go to cities like Warsaw or Kraków, but among Poles themselves, a rapidly growing city gaining attention for its creative culture is Łódź.

Once known as the “Manchester of Poland” for its thriving textile industry, the city declined to the point of being called “the ugliest city” due to the ruins left behind by its industrial past and the worsening of social issues.

In recent years, however, Łódź has transformed into an attractive regenerated city, making use of its old factories while being filled with greenery, art, and music.

Let me introduce you to the charm of Łódź, known as Poland’s most creative regenerated city.

1.What is Łódź Like?

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It is a “creative city” known for its revitalized industrial heritage, art spaces, film school, and design and music festivals.

As you walk through the city, you’ll come across art everywhere, making simply strolling around an enjoyable experience.

Because it was once an industrial city, Łódź is also packed with many parks, making it a place full of greenery.

Located in the heart of Poland, Łódź is just over an hour away by train from the capital Warsaw.

It also offers convenient access to Poland’s northern coast and the mountain ranges in the south.

If you’d like to take your time and enjoy the city at a relaxed pace, three days is recommended, but the main attractions can be covered comfortably in just one day, making it a perfectly sized city to explore.

Incidentally, in Polish, “Łódź” means “boat.”

2.Must-See Spots in Łódź

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Even just wandering around the city center, you’ll come across stylish shops and street art, which makes exploring fun on its own. But here, I’d like to share some of my personal recommendations — from classic must-see spots to more unique, off-the-beaten-path places.

2.1. Piotrkowska Street（Ulica Piotrkowska）

Łódź’s main street stretches for 4.2 km, running straight between Liberty Square and Independence Square. Along the way, you’ll find a colorful and picturesque array of Art Nouveau architecture that looks almost like a painting.

Throughout the year, music and art events are also held here.

This isn’t unique to Łódź, but one thing I love about Polish cities in general is how clean they are — you hardly ever see litter on the streets, especially compared to many Western European countries.

2.2. Ordinary courtyards transform into a magical space: Róża Passage (Pasaż Róży)

The courtyards between buildings have become a tourist attraction known as Róża Passage.

Originally dark and unremarkable, the courtyards were transformed into a bright and magical art space by covering them with pieces of mirrors in various shapes — a truly surprising and creative makeover!

The name “Róża” comes from the daughter of the artist Joanna Rajkowska. As a child, Róża battled eye cancer, and the process of her illness and recovery is said to be woven into the artwork itself.

2.3. Pan Tu Nie Stał – a shop where you can find unique, cute clothing that’s also body-friendly.

Łódź, once the center of the textile industry, is still home to many designers who carry on this artisan tradition.

Pan Tu Nie Stał (PTNS) is a popular brand known for its retro-pop designs, high-quality, body-friendly materials, and commitment to local production — everything from design to manufacturing is done in Poland.

You can shop online here too.

From T-shirts and hoodies to joggers, shorts, and women’s dresses, and even accessories like socks, hats, mugs, and towels, every item features designs full of Polish-style humor.

The shop offers clothing not only for women and men but also for children, so I saw families shopping together.

There’s also a café on-site, so it’s worth visiting even just for the coffee — which was delicious, by the way.

The café also has puzzles and board games, making it a relaxing place to hang out. And of course, dogs are very welcome too.

We even took a break to play some puzzles ourselves.

By the way, this was the Polish-style pizza called Cebularz. It was a bit tricky to eat (haha).

2.4. From Factory to City! Fuzja — A Mixed-Use Urban Space Shaping the Future

The former factory area on the southern side of Łódź’s main street, Piotrkowska Street, has now become a hub for young people and creators, known as OFF.

Some of the buildings house local designers’ ateliers, offices for startups, and small-brand shops,

but the ground floor has also become a popular spot to enjoy international cuisine — from Vietnamese dishes and vegan cafés to craft beer bars. On sunny days, the stylish terrace seating is perfect for a meal.

2.5. From Factory to City! Fuzja — A Futuristic Mixed-Use Urban Space

Fuzja transformed a 19th-century factory site into a mixed-use urban space, preserving its retro exterior while incorporating residential areas, offices, commercial facilities, and green plazas.

If the OFF area I mentioned earlier is a trendy, street-style hotspot attracting young people and artists,

then Fuzja is a cleaner, family-friendly area that’s welcoming even for families with small children.

We visited on a weekend morning, and it looked like a yoga session had just finished in the plaza. Yoga in such a stylish space on a beautiful day must have been amazing.

Not only are there stylish restaurants and cafés, but there are also plenty of reclining chairs, making it a place where anyone can relax.

Some parts are still under development, so it looks like the area will continue to grow and become even more vibrant.

Even just wandering around without a specific plan, it’s a very interesting and visually engaging area.

I’m looking forward to seeing the new facilities that will likely be added the next time I visit.

2.6. A Must-Try in Łódź: Łódzka Zalewajka

A local specialty of the Łódź region is Łódzka Zalewajka, a sour soup.

It’s similar to Żurek, a beloved soup throughout Poland, but Zalewajka tends to be lighter and more sour, with potatoes and dried mushrooms taking center stage.

As someone who loves Żurek, I honestly didn’t notice a huge difference (haha), but I still enjoyed it very much.

We had Łódzka Zalewajka at Bistro na Kilińskiego, a traditional milk bar, and other Polish dishes like Kotlet Schabowy were also very tasty.

3.A Recap of the Places We Covered

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